Seal Beach Police Department reminds drivers to always stop for school buses

National School Bus Safety Week ends Oct. 21

Seal Beach Police Officers will be wearing this patch all this month. Photo courtesy of Seal Beach Police Department

This National School Bus Safety Week (October 17-21), the  Seal Beach Police Department supports efforts throughout the  state to keep children and caregivers safe by reminding drivers on  the  dangers of passing a stopped school bus. Drivers are  required to come to a complete stop when a school bus stop-arm is extended, and the  red  lights are  flashing.

Held annually during the  third week of October, National School Bus Safety Week is a way for  parents, children, teachers, bus drivers, school administrators and law enforcement to promote traveling to and from school by  bus as a safe transportation option. This  year’s campaign focuses on preventing illegal school bus passing.

While riding the  bus is the  safest way for  children to get  to and from school, an  alarming number of drivers illegally pass school buses who have their red  lights activated. From 2011 to 2020 a total of 218 school-age children (18  and younger) died in school-bus- related crashes during that period, either riding on  school buses, other cars, or on  foot or bike, according to the  National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

With few  exceptions, California law  requires drivers to stop in both directions when a school bus has flashing red  lights on.  Drivers must stop until the  red  lights are  off,  and children are  on  or off  the  bus and safely out  of the  road.

“It is so important  that we  remind drivers in our  community that when red  lights are flashing, there is no passing,” Seal Beach Chief of Police Philip L. Gonshak said. “Children and their caretakers are relying on drivers to follow the law and keep them safe.”

Funding for  this  program was provided by a grant from the  California Office of Traffic Safety, through the  National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.